News

Wireless black cab

The future could be wireless for black cabs

Black cabs are charging their taxis wirelessly as part of a trial to bring more electric vehicles into the fleet and on to our roads.

One of the biggest obstacles to using EVs in the taxi fleet is range, with public hire and private hire drivers expressing concerns that the distance they can travel before having to recharge will prevent them operating efficiently.

taxi drivers remembrance day

Taxi drivers Remembrance Day support for veterans

Today is Armistice Day and as we prepare for Remembrance Sunday, taxi drivers are again helping war veterans remember fallen comrades by taking them to memorial ceremonies in London for free.

The tradition began in the capital 13 years ago with London black cab drivers volunteering their time to support the free Poppy Cabs Service.

Illegal Taxi

Illegal taxis putting lives at risk.

Passengers are being warned about the dangers of travelling in illegal taxis which is making the most of the surging demand in towns and cities at weekends.

The warning comes after a council in Wales saw a rise in the number of unlicensed public hire and private hire taxis descending on Merthyr Tydfil at the weekends.

Private hire kiss mark

Private hire driver exposes cheating couple

A private hire taxi driver has sparked debate after she claims to have exposed an affair by taking a cheating man and his mistress back to his home – just moments after his wife and children had waved him off.

The incident happened in Dallas after an Uber driver who gave her name as Roni shared a video on TikTok.

Aime and Amalia

Growing taxi insurance services with new additions

Patons Insurance is continuing its mission to help the taxi-driving community by making sure drivers receive the best-quality services and highest levels of support.

As part of that drive, the family-run taxi insurance broker has made key appointments this year to strengthen the company.

taxi cab

Veteran taxi driver feels like part of the family

Patons is a family taxi insurance business that focuses on looking after staff and clients as if they are part of the family.

With offices in a number of locations including Edinburgh, Dundee, Glasgow, Liverpool, Manchester, Middlesbrough, Newcastle and London, Patons Insurance operates both face-to-face and online.

oil protests stop taxi drivers

Environmental protesters stop EV taxi drivers

Taxi drivers are understandably frustrated that environmental protesters are stopping them working – especially those who have already forked out on new electric cabs.

Just Stop Oil campaigners have frequently targeted London’s busy streets and been shown on the news causing huge congestion in and around the capital.

cyber security on taxi firms

Cyber Security Safety for Taxi Firms

A recent cyber attack at Uber reveals that keeping technology safe and secure is as important as taxi drivers getting passengers to their destination safely.

Following the data breach last month, in a bid to reassure staff, drivers and customers that its systems and data are secure, Uber has released details of the hack and how the firm reacted to stop the breach and improve security.

Increased taxi drivers

How the Pandemic changed the Taxi Industry

The pandemic put the brakes on the taxi industry and many others as lockdown and social-distancing measures continued for almost two years.

We recently shared that more people are now getting back behind the wheel of a taxi or are starting out their career as taxi drivers. And, as numbers continue to climb, interesting trends and changes have occurred which could shape the future the taxi trade.

Stolen taxi

Thief jailed for stealing public hire taxi

It is great news that a stolen black cab has been returned to its taxi driver owner without a scratch on it, and the thief responsible has been locked up.

The incident happened last month in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire, and fortunately, the illegal fare lasted just seven minutes as the speeding black-cab thief was caught by an elite roads policing unit.

Ridesharing impact on taxi drivers

Ride sharing’s impact on taxi drivers

Taxi drivers play an important role in our communities and for more than 100 years have been a convenient, reliable and safe way for people to get around.

Passengers would regularly use the same private hire taxi firms and knew where to hail a black cab if they arrived at a train or bus station or other public venue.

Self-driving taxis

Journalist’s Rollercoaster white-knuckle ride in a driverless taxi

Some people see driverless taxis as the future, while to others, they are nothing more than a hi-tech gimmick. But ultimately, it is the passengers who will decide their fate as they have to feel safe and comfortable using the hi-tech taxi.

Whether or not the novelty wears off, there has been plenty of investment into autonomous vehicles and driverless taxis are currently being trialled in America.